Sharikadze has signed for Aurillac it seems, a mid table Pro D2 team but with no Top 14 aspirations. Disappointing he couldn't get the Top 14 team that was rumoured, but still he's only 20, hopefully he can get an opportunity to play in the top leagues as some point.

Out of interest, I wonder whether some of the Georgians in the Top 14 alert their clubs of some of the top talent in Georgia, it seems to be that Pedro Bettencourt of Portugal got a contract at Clermont thanks to Julien Bardy, and previously José Lima got a contract thanks to Gonçalo Uva at Narbonne.

Georgia may still have a back in the Top 14 next year though if Agen go up through the playoffs.

Beeman wrote:Sharikadze has signed for Aurillac it seems, a mid table Pro D2 team but with no Top 14 aspirations. Disappointing he couldn't get the Top 14 team that was rumoured, but still he's only 20, hopefully he can get an opportunity to play in the top leagues as some point.

Out of interest, I wonder whether some of the Georgians in the Top 14 alert their clubs of some of the top talent in Georgia, it seems to be that Pedro Bettencourt of Portugal got a contract at Clermont thanks to Julien Bardy, and previously José Lima got a contract thanks to Gonçalo Uva at Narbonne.

Georgia may still have a back in the Top 14 next year though if Agen go up through the playoffs.

José Lima is playing with the 1st XV, and has been a regular on theteam.Pedro Bettencourt (Lima's center partner) has signed for 3 years with centre de formation de l'ASM Clermont Auvergne, but I could bet he will be with the 1st team in a year or so...

Has anyone seen the video replays of Georgian under 18 team in there games against Ireland,Italy,Portugal. Irakli Svanidze there fullback is an outstanding prospect.He made some great line breaks in all games they played and had to have been one of the best players at the tournament.Was light years better than any other Georgian back. A french club would surely have noticed him. Number 6 Zoidze and number 8 Beka Gorgadze were also very impressive.

Scoob wrote:Has anyone seen the video replays of Georgian under 18 team in there games against Ireland,Italy,Portugal. Irakli Svanidze there fullback is an outstanding prospect.He made some great line breaks in all games they played and had to have been one of the best players at the tournament.Was light years better than any other Georgian back. A french club would surely have noticed him. Number 6 Zoidze and number 8 Beka Gorgadze were also very impressive.

Interesting clash in the Top 14 for Georgian fans. Zirakashvili (Clermont) vs Jgenti (Perpignan). It's Zirakashvili who appears to be coming out on top in the scrum in that contest, Jgenti struggling up against Debaty.

Scoob wrote:Has anyone seen the video replays of Georgian under 18 team in there games against Ireland,Italy,Portugal. Irakli Svanidze there fullback is an outstanding prospect.He made some great line breaks in all games they played and had to have been one of the best players at the tournament.Was light years better than any other Georgian back. A french club would surely have noticed him. Number 6 Zoidze and number 8 Beka Gorgadze were also very impressive.

Interesting. I will try and watch the games and have a look out for him. He's already got some videos up on YouTube as well.

I didn't watch Clermont v Saracens in the HC but besides that Zirakishvili has been massive after coming back from injury, if he continues like this there will be no competition for our starting N3 on the WC, Its interesting to see who will be his replacement, from Kubriashvili, Peikrishvili, Jgenti.

4N wrote:Agree that red was harsh, very literal interpretation by the ref. But that's what happens when you have a go at a French player in France.

I also worry for that it will hurt his playing time for Toulon post-suspension. They're hardly short of options.

The main reason about the hurt of his playing time is Taofifenua and Evans signings.Next year Toulon will have 6 locks : Bakkies Botha, Ali Williams, Ian Evans, Jocelino Suta, Romain Taofifenua and for sure Konstantine Mikautadze

Sad to see Basilaia go having unfairly lost his place to some pretty second rate saffers. He deserved better, hope he gets more game time in France.

Basilaia is a decent player and good ball carrier, an area I would say he can improve though is he has hands like feet and can get sloppy at times losing the ball in contact.

He's good enough that he'll probably get at least a Pro D2 contract, but I must admit it's disappointing that as the only Georgian playing in a pro league outside of France he had some injuries and was pretty much frozen out as unwanted when Solomons came in and brought a dozen South Africans with him, his career in Edinburgh ended pretty much when Bradley was sacked.

Georgian under 19 rugby lost to England counties under 20 36-10.Georgia actually played fairly well in a high paced game. They were physically out matched up front by older opposition particularly in the scrums where they got destroyed.2 of Georgias best props from Junior world trophy not on this tour which did not help. The pleasing thing was there backline matched the opposition and made a number of good line breaks. The back 3 of Babunashvili,Svanidze,Gulitashvili played very well except 1-2 handling errors. The half back --first five pairing also played well,the halfback needs to improve passing game though. Number 8 Gorgodze done well considering front 5 were backpedalling number of times. Forward pack were very good in the mauls and open play, lineout but team did not get enough ball to challenge on the scoreboard.Not sure how many of those county players are in academy for premiership clubs but were a good team.